Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in jobs, housing tenure and religion.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of Waltham Forest increased by 18%, from just over 218,000 to 258,000.

The addition of just under 40,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Waltham Forest was home to, on average, 48 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Waltham Forest

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Waltham Forest decreased by one year, from 33 to 32 years.

This urban area had a lower average age than London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 9,900 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by just under 300.

About 15% of people in Waltham Forest are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Waltham Forest by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

Waltham Forest saw England's largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) people aged 16 to 74 in Waltham Forest said they were self-employed, compared with 7.4% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 52% to 48%.

Haringey saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people (from 9.0% to 14%).

The rate of self-employment in Waltham Forest increased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Waltham Forest, London and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Waltham Forest that rented privately increased from 16% to 26% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in five (22%) households lived in social housing, compared with 24% in 2001. The percentage of Waltham Forest households that owned their home decreased from 58% to 50%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 15% in 2001 to 25% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Waltham Forest increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Waltham Forest, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Waltham Forest

The percentage of Waltham Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 91% to 92% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.0%, while the percentage of Waltham Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 5.6% to 5.0%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (which remained close to 92%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Waltham Forest

The number of people in Waltham Forest that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 33,000 in 2001 to about 57,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 22% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across London (from 8.5% to 12%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Waltham Forest that described themselves as Christian remained close to 120,000 between the last two censuses (from 57% to 48% of the population). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 34,000 to about 46,000 (from 15% to 18%).

Just under 19,000 people (8.9%) did not state their religion, similar to the amount in 2001 (which at the time represented 7.3%)

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Muslim in Waltham Forest increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Waltham Forest by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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